Improved eevolvim sluices foe saving metals



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THOMAS D. AND WILLIAM A. HEDGER, 0F MEADOW LAKE, CALFORNIA.

Letters Patent No. 61,426, dated January 22, 1867.

IMPROVD REVOLVING SLUIGBS FOR SAVING METALS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: y

Be it known that we, THOMAS DENIsoX Hnn'cnn and WiLLrAM Anruun Henman, of Meadow Lake, Nevada county, State of California, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Sluices for Saving Metals; and We do hereby declare the following description and accompanyingdrawings are sulicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science'to which it most nearly appertaius, to make and use our said invention, Without further invention or experiment.

The nature of our invention relates to a revolving sluice for separating from thev pulp, ground oreor sand, therefuse particles or debris, and saving the valuable portion, such as the gold, silver, quieksilver, or sulphurets; and consists inproiding a suitable frame, placed at an incline, across which are placed rollers.

A Around these rollers isplaced an endless belt, with sides of 'wood or metal segments lapping upon each other so as to pass around the drums or rollers, forming a continuous channel. Our invention also relates to a mouthpiece or opening forI conveying water beneath and into the pulp through a different channel than that by which the ore is conveyed to the belt; also to a box or tanlg underneath the sluice, containing water through which the belt is passed, and to an upright scraper to prevent the sand from entering the tank when the machine is; in operation. I I

In order temere fully describe our invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, and letters marked thereon', in which;

Figure 'l represents a side sectional elevation of our sluice.

Figure 2, a top view.

Similar letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

A A is a framework placed at an incline. Longitudinally with this frame we construct a tank, B, resting on cross-pieces. At the ends of the frame we place drums, C and C. around which is stretchellthe endless belt D; and passing down into the tank at an incline, where it is kept in place by :t roller, a, which revolves upon vthe belt. The belt consists of canvas, or any suitable material suiiiciently rough to retain the heavy particles set forth.

of ore or metal. At the edge of each side of the beltwe attach segments of wood or metal, bb 6, ete/overlapping each other and forming continuous chains or side pieces.' .These are fastened to the belt bolting or any other means, so that when the belt passes around the drums these segments will open and close, forming flexible joints retaining the water and material in the channel. Rollersfc c, are placed transversely with the upper portion of the frame, which support the belt between the drums, so that when loaded it will notpress downtoo far in thc-centre.

For operating our machine,-motion is imparted by the pulley E, carrying the belt up the incline.; and the pulp or material for Working is introduced upon the platform F, at the top of the' sluice. Underneath this platform is an opening or mouth-piece, G, through which clean water is constantly passing on to thebelt, carrying, by its force, the lighter particles of sand and debris down the incline to the foot of the sluice, while the heavier and valuable portion is carried up the incline belt and around into the tanl'r, to be freed from the belt by coming in contact with the water. At the lower end of the belt is an upright tail-board, H, which prevents the waste sand from passing into the tank.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim, and desire to secure byvLetters Patent, is-

1. A sluice with revolving belt, D, so constructed that the sides will form tlexible'joints, b b, in passing around the drums, closing up and forming close joints while passing up and down the incline, forming a sucieut channel between them for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

2. The mouth-piece or opening, G, beneath the platform, so that the sa nl or pulp which is fed to the' machine may enter a suicient distance below to give action and forcev to the waterfintroduced through` the opening `G to sweep down the incline and carry with it the sand and debris, substantially as described for. the purpose 3. Separating the ore by passing the valuable portions up the incline and the debris down to the foot as Waste matter, as described. i'

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals.

W. A. HEDGER, [L s] T. D. HEDGER. [1.. s.]

Witnesses:

C. A. KELLOGG, F. B. HIGGINS. 

